Comprehensive search for human-specific genes regulating brain development

Humans are characterized by the advanced cognitive functions empowered by their elaborated brains. Although the molecular mechanisms that differentiate humans from non-human primates remain mostly unresolved, human-specific mechanisms involved in fetal brain development have become resolved. We recently found that some human-specific genes, which have been newly acquired in the course of human evolution, regulate brain development to expand brain volume. However, there has been no systematic search for the total number of human-specific genes in the human genome and functional screening of those involved in brain development.